Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Co-Producing A Shared Characterization Of Depredation In The Gulf Of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery: Comprehensive Report, James M. Drymon, Ana Osowski, Amanda Jargowsky, Matthew Ajemian, Angela Collins, Bryan Fluech, Steven Gray, Julie Lively, Steven Scyphers

Coastal Research and Extension Center Publications

Depredation, defined as the partial or complete removal of a hooked fish by a non-target species, is a cryptic form of mortality that can affect the accuracy of stock assessments and species management efforts. Accounting for depredation is crucial to minimize uncertainty in stock assessment models and to obtain accurate and reliable fisheries catch data. If these interactions are frequent, failure to properly quantify this form of mortality can lead to the underestimation of reef fish population removals, inappropriate harvest recommendations, and stakeholder unrest. In recent years, depredation has escalated in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) reef fish fishery. Although …